09/01/2026
European governments are pushing to return Syrian refugees, but conditions inside Syria—from stalled reconstruction to ongoing insecurity, make durable return unrealistic.
In this commentary, Kelly Petillo, Kelly Petillo, researcher and MENA Programme Manager at the European Council on Foreign Relationsresearcher on refugee and humanitarian issues, examines how European political dynamics are shaping refugee return policies, and why this approach risks backfiring.
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